Page 48 of Safe With Me

“I’m only teasing you. I like that you tried and that you’re fixing this place up. I’m sure Kathy will be pleased too, once you show her.”

“I planned to show you both so you could be proud.”

“Iamproud,” he said. “And like I said, it’s nice to see you settling in.”

That smile and how it melted my insides was exactly why I needed to learn how to put my own furniture together. The more time Mike was here, just the two of us, the more I’d forget why it was a bad idea to grab his face and plant a thank-you right on his lips.

“What time are you working until tonight?”

“It depends on if they ask me for overtime. Do you have any plans today, besides home improvement?”

“I actually have planstonight. I’m meeting Claudia for dinner, and then I’m going to hang out at the bar with her after.”

“Wow,” he said, swiveling his head toward me. “I am impressed.”

“Well, I should be out on a Saturday night, right? It’s embarrassing when your landladies have more of a social life than you do.”

“Oh, don’t go by Terry and Kathy.” Mike shook his head. “They have more of a social life than all of us.”

The thought of being out at night by myself was still a little daunting, but it was time. I couldn’t be a recluse the rest of my life and only go out alone during daylight hours.

Being inside all the time wasn’t good for what was left of my mental health. I had more time to ponder things, more temptation to open my social media accounts to see what Ted was up to, possibly tipping him off as to where I was in the process.

Extra time alone made me do crazy things like buy furniture I didn’t need just to prove a point.

“Where are you going to dinner tonight?” Mike asked.

“Salma’s, the burger place. We get takeout from there sometimes at the office. I’ll head back to the bar with her after for a couple of hours.”

“Get the fried mushrooms. That’s been my favorite there since I was a kid.”

“It must be weird to grow up with the same few restaurants all the time. Do you ever want anything different?”

“Sure. There are a few places my friends and I go to a couple of towns over, but honestly, when you work all day, the places in town are convenient and close. A matter of laziness, maybe.” He stood and lifted the completed side table off the floor.

“You’re kind of a show-off.”

Mike laughed and shook his head.

“This is similar to the side table that’s in my apartment. You probably didn’t notice it since it’s covered with my sister’s plushie collection. Another attempt of hers to move in.”

“I love that. Both that she wants to live with you and that you tolerate a mountain of stuffed toys in your apartment.”

“She’ll be ten soon. I only have so much time before she realizes that I’m not as cool as she thought I was.”

“I disagree. I think you’re very cool. A show-off, but cool.”

A shy smile ghosted his mouth. “Well, thanks.” He carried the end table over to the door and set it down. “Here is where you wanted it, right?”

It was hard enough to think around Mike without him in those damn uniform pants. I forced my eyes upward and nodded.

“So, how are you feeling about tonight? All kidding aside, that’s a big step.”

“I’ve been out at night before with someone, but I need to do this. As far as I know, Ted doesn’t know I’m here. My brother doesn’t know I’m here. And my parents still don’t have myaddress. It’s supposed to be a nice summer night, and I’ll try to put the nerves aside and make the most of it.”

“That’s not what I asked,” Mike said, inching over to me. “It’s okay to feel a little nervous after what you’ve been through. You go out when you think you’re ready.”

“Then I’ll never go out,” I said. “Again, I need to do this. It’s time.”

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